Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman has taken sides. He will oppose health care reform and the Democratic Party in a dramatic and historical way. Some have criticized Lieberman for being a strong asset to the Republican Party. One thing is clear, Lieberman is standing up for health insurance companies. It appears that his goal is to find a way to water down significant health care reform and the public option.

One of Lieberman’s top campaign contributors is the lobbyist group for Triwest Healthcare Alliance, which contributed $50,000 in 2008 (Source: Senate Office of Public Records LD-203 disclosure database; data from 2008).

Lieberman announced today that “if the bill remains what it is now, I will not be able to support a cloture motion before final passage.”

“I told Senator Reid that I’m strongly inclined–i haven’t totally decided, but I’m strongly inclined–to vote to proceed to the health care debate, even though I don’t support the bill that he’s bringing together because it’s important that we start the debate on health care reform because I want to vote for health care reform this year. But I also told him that if the bill remains what it is now, I will not be able to support a cloture motion before final passage. Therefore I will try to stop the passage of the bill.”